George



(No Model.)

S & G. J. ER. 58heets-Sheet 1.

G. APPLEGATE & L. A. SHIMER, Administrators of G. J. SHIMER, DecdPLANER.

' No. 367,674; Patented Aug. 2, 1887..

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. J. & G. J. SHIMER. G. 'APPLEGATE &. L. A 8111mm Admimstrators of G.J. SHIMER, Decd.

(No Model.)

PLANER.

No. 367,674. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lflhugmphm. Washington. ac.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

s. J. & G. J. SHIMER.

G. APPLEGATE & L. A. SHIMER, Administrators of G. J. SHIMER, Decd.

' PLANER.

No. 367,674. Patented Au- .'2, 1887.

N. FETERS. vmmumn mmr. Waihinglnn. u. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. APPLEGATE & L. A. SHIMER, Administrators of G. J. SHIMER, Deed; PLANEE- No. 367,674. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

f 91430 c 14 Po 3 I W M; 4 .5,.- mMazia/ n. PETERS. Pholo-LilhogmpheWashingmn. n. c. I

abFom Lum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. SHIMER, OF MILTON, PENNSYLYANIA; GEORGE APPLEGATE AND LENNIAA. SHIMER, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ADMINISTRATORS OF GEORGE J.SHIMER, DECEASED; SAID APPLEGATE AND L. A. SHIMER ASSIGNORS TO SAIDSAMUEL .J. SHIMER.

PLANER.

SPECIFICATION Zorming part of Letters Patent No. 367,674, dated August2, 188

I Application filed October 21, 1886. Serial No. 216,791. (No model.)

To all whom/it. may concern:

- Beit known that SAMUEL J. SHIMEma citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Milton, in the county of Northumberland and StateofPennsylvania, and GEORGE J. SHIMER, in his lifetime late a citizen ofthe United States of America, and a resident of Bethlehem, in the countyof Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, (deceased,) made a new 1 anduseful invention in \Vood-WVorking Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

'Ihis'invention has relation to improvements in planers, or machines forplaning flat surfaces of board stuff; and the object is to adapt an Iimproved adj ustable'chain-feed to the planing mechanism, whereby thetension of the feedrollers will automatically, conform to the variationsor differences of the thickness in the stuff 2c being planed withoutendangering the integrity of themechanism.

The invention consists in the novel construction of parts and theircombination, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specially as 2the same is poinledout in the claim made hereto.

The improvements are fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- 3 looking fromthe.front. Fig. 2 is a perspective View looking from the rear, thebed-plates being removed to show the adjustable arms which carry thematching-cutters. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, in elevation,showing one of the adjustable arms, with the cutterhead spindle, thevertically-adj ustable bracket carrying the upper rollers,and theplaner-knife head, the chain-feed of that side being also a partiallydemonstrated. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken ertically onthe line w w of Fig. 1, and showing the mechanism for adjusting thebrackets which carry the upper rollers and planer-head. Fig.6 is alongitudinal sectionalview,in elevation,taken on the lineyg of Fig. 1,and showing the arrangement of the rollers and the chain-feed. Fig. 6 isa .nals of the shafts and lower feed-rollers.

Figure 1 is a perspective-view of the planer,

transverse sectionalview on the linezz of Fig.

1, to show the rack-bar and the gear-wheels which adjust the armscarrying the matcher- 0 heads, and Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly insection, showing the arrangement of the adjusting mechanism on the armscarrying the matcher-heads. f

In thedrawings similar notations refer to like elements of parts,andrefer'ence being thereto had, the letter A designates the frame ofthe machine, consisting of substantial metal side pieces, 1 2, formedwith apertures through which such shafts as project across the frame arearranged, and with box-seats for the jour- The legs or standards of theside pieces of the frame are bound together by cross-pieces 3,-havingend flanges through which and the'lcgs are fastening bolts,substantially as seen in the drawings. The front end is additionallygirded by a cross piece or plate, 4, and a top plate, 5, on which or towhich the end of an auxiliary table (not shown) is laid or secured, sothat the stock as it'is carried through the machine runs out thereon.The rear-end of the machine is girded at the upper part by across-piece, 6, which is flanged at 7 to set over the gears whichoperate the adjustable arms which carry 7 5 the spindles andcutter-heads for matching the stuff, or other side cutters. In thecross-piece 6 is a slot, 8, in which the neck of the turning-gear isprojected and slides, as will be hereinafter more fully specified.

On the top of the side pieces are secured the bed, consisting of twometal plates, 9 10, hav- 'ing their ends turned down and flanged, as at11, and secured to the edges of the side pieces of the framebyscrew-bolts. These metal bedplates are arranged with an opening, 12,between their inner cdges, to afford an opening for the middle bolt ofthe gage-bar,wl1ich holds it to the carrying bar or arm of one of thecutter-heads. I 0

Thenumeral 13 designates the d riving-shaftmounted across the machine inproper bear ings', and carrying on it, next to the frame and on eachside thereof, belt-pulleys 14 15, the one end of the driving-shaft beingextended and having mounted thereon the fixed driving-pulley 16 and theloose pulley 17, which have connection by belt (not shown) to the power.On the inner side of each side piece of the frame, at that part overwhich the feed-rollers and planer-knives are mounted, is formed avertical sleeve, 18, the metal of the side pieces being extended at thispoint, as shown, to prevent the feed-rollers and planer-knife from beingdropped down too far. In each of the vertical sleeves 1.8 is arranged avertically-adjustable bracket or carrying'piece, 19. This adjustablebracket is formed with a verticallydepending standard, 20, adapted tofit in the sleeve 18, and on the top of the standard 20 is formed acr0ss-head, 21, projected horizontally in both directions from thestandard and at right angles thereto, forming arms 22 23. In thiscross-head, at the middle, is formed a bearing-seat for the shaft of theplaner-head, and in the ends of each horizontally-projected arm is abearingbox seat, 24, in which the bearingboxes of the respective upperfeed-rollers are arranged. In the standard 20 is formed avertically-arranged slot, 25, and the bottom piece below the slot isprovided with a threaded hole, 26, into which is fitted anadjusting-screw, 27. This screw is held in a collar, 28, formed on orsecured to the side pieces of the frame, with the stem of the screwprojected through the threaded end of the standard and into the slotthereof. The end of the screw below the sup porting-collar is formed orprovided with a bevel gear-wheel, 29.

Projected across the machine and mounted in hearings in side pieces is ashaft, 30, which has its end projected, as at 31, and formed to take awrench or crank, by which it may be revolved. On this shaft 30, arrangedto mesh with the bevel-gear on the screws of the ad j ustable standards,are small bevel gearwheels a.

It will be perceived from the foregoing that by turning the shaft thescrews in the brackets are operated, and the stems of the brackets, withthe elements or parts mounted on the cross-heads, may be thus raised orlowered, the cut and the pressure both being regulated thereby oradjusted.

The numeral 32 designates the planer-head, which may be of any of theapproved styles of construction. It is shown as consisting of arectangular head, with four knives adjustabl y secured thereon. Thejournals of this head are mounted in hearings in the middle of thecross-headsof the brackets and di rectlyover the standards. The endsofthe shaft ofthe head are extended and have pulleys 33 34 fixedthereon, the former of which is belted to the main pulley 14, and thelatter similarly connected to the other main pulley, 15. Tighteners 35are hung in frames pivoted to the sides of the machine and arranged tobear on the upper line of the belting.

The numeral 36 designates the lower rear feed-roller, and 37 the forwardlower feedroller. These are mounted in bearings arranged substantiallyas shown in the side pieces of the frame, and have formed on necksbetween the bearings and the shoulder of the rollers sprocket or smallgear teeth 38, to engage the links of the feed-chain. These lowerrollers are not adjustable in their bearin gs, being held therein bybox-caps or other suitable means.

The numeral 89 designates the rear upper feed-roller, and 40 the forwardupper feedroller. These are mounted in the box-seats in the arms of theeross-head of the adjustable brackets, and have closed bearing-boxes 41,which are seated in the box-seats of the said arms, and are loosetherein in order that the rollers may automatically seat themselves onthe stock and adapt themselves to any and all variances in thickness orother unevenness of the stock. The upper feed-rollers have necks withsprockets 42 between the shoulders of the rollers and their bearings,same as heretofore mentioned in theconstruetion of the lowerfeed-rollers.

Mounted in proper bearings in the frame is the feed-shaft 43, carryingon the projected end a gear-wheel, 44, which meshes with a gear (notshown) on the driving-shaft, and fixed on the shaft, to align with thesprockets on the necks of the feed-rollers, are small sprocket wheels46, constituting the drivingwhecls of the feed.

A special and important element or feature of this invention is thenovel attainment of the weight or pressure necessary to be exerted bythe feed-rollers upon the stock in order to carry it through the machineby means of the driving mechanism which rotates the feed-rollers. Thisis consummated by means of an endless chain arranged about the necks ofthe feed-rollers', whereby not only motion is imparted to thefeed-rollers, but a pressing or weight function is given to them to anextent always sullicient to overcome the resistance, and assuring apositive feed-power. Under this arrangement the strength of the feed ismeasured by the breaking strain of the chain which rotates the rollers,and of course must be greater than the frictional resistance of theboard or stock in the machine, since if the propelling-power of therollers on the stock be sufficient to simplyovercome the frictionalresistance of the stock, the feedrollers may slip and the stock fail tobe pushed forward; hence the rollers must be weighted, as has heretoforebeen customary, or a pressu re applied thereto by other means.

Heretofore the weights imparting the pressare have been independentelements, and not connected to the positive or motive power noroperatively associated therewith. Therefore it often happens that thestock sticks or stops while the rollers are in full motion, evidencingthat the weight power is not great enough, or that its limit ofeffectiveness is reached. The machine is greatly simplified and thisdifficnlty overcome by the introduction of the chain-feed in the presentmachine, as bythe arrangement of the chain on the feed-rollers Idispense with the weights heretofore used, and combine the equivalentfor the weights in the motive or positive power by which the rollers areactuated.

It is essentialthat the weightpower and the motive power combined shallbe about equal to the breaking strain of the chain, but preferably theweight power may be greater than the motive power, in order that no slipmay occur in the feed, and for that reason the necks of the feed-rollerswith the sprockets are made smaller than the body of the rollers; and ithas been found by practical experiments that the best results areobtained when the axial line of the driving sprocket-wheel is locatedwithin a certain limited arcto wit, within an are bounded by lines abouttwenty degrees and forty-five-degrees toone side of a vertical linepassing through the axis of the first up- .per feed-roller-and that whenthus located it imparts the requisite pull to the drive-chain.Describingthe mechanism designed to effectuate these ends, the letters Bdesignate the chains which constitute the tensible chainfeed, These arearranged on all of the feedrollers about the sprocket-necks over thefeedsprocket. The arrangement of the chains is best demonstrated in Fig.5 of the drawings,

on reference to which it will be seen that the chain rests on thefeed-sprocket, thence over the upper forward feed-roller, thence crossedunder the same and under the lower front feedroller, thence carriedacross under the crosspiece of the machine under the lower rearfeedroller, thence forward, and back over the upper rear feedrollers tothe feed sprocket. This chain-feed gives motion to the feed-rollers inunison with the same certainty aseoggear, but with adjustability notfound in coggear feed. The peculiar adjustment of the chain on thefeed-rollers imparts to them a 5fsynchronous revolution derived from thefeedsprocket, yet the stretching or giving quality of the chain permitsthem to check or give without the jeopardy and uncertainty accompanyi nga yielding or variable cog-gear, the upper feedrollers being mounted inbearing-boxes arranged to move up and down in their seats whenever theexigency happens which lifts the roller or causes it to drop, thepressure being adj ustedand the movements admissible by reason of thesag in the lower'line of the chains. When the rollers are lifted byvariances in the stock, the tension of the drive-chain, as well as thepower of the feed, is increased, and this is as it should be -inpractice.

It will be further stated in this connection that a function is reachedby the adjustment and arrangement of the feed-sprocket which carries thechain and drives the feed-rollers.

' This driving or feed sprocket must be placed a weight power, and atthe same time utilizing only so much of such weight power as may benecessary to overcome the resistance which operates against the passingboard. Rollers with weighted levers, as heretofore in use, set on thestock with a uniform pressure, and

spring-rollers are variable in their force; but a under the arrangementof this tensible chainfeed this rear upper roller is free to take anyposition that the upper'surface of the passing board gives it. In thecombination "with the drive or sprocket feed a weight function isattained which answers all purposes. The mechanism to control weightedlevers is'therefore dispensed with and a lighter roller used.

From the foregoing description and on reference to the drawings,particularly Fig. 5, it will be seen that the driving-chain passesdirectly from one of the adjustable rollers to the driving-sprocket, sothat the pull of the chain presses the roller down upon the stock moreeffectively than were it to pass over an intermediate idler, or were thesprocket on the lower fixed feed-roller, in either of which cases thetension of the chain would be largely 9 borne by the last roller overwhich it passed, and would not operate to force the feed-roller upon theboard.

It will be further observed that each strand of the lower bightof thedriver-chain is supported directly by one of the two upper feedrollers,whereby the chain as it passes to and from the movable adjustablerollers tends to force them upon the stock as it is fed through themachine.

' An adjustable pressure-bar, 47, isseeured in front of the planer-head,and back of the planer-head is secured a shield or shoe, 48. These areboth of the usual construction and are secured to'the frame by anyproper means.

The letters B and B designate adjustable carrying-arms, in the forwardends of which the spindles of the mateherheads are arranged. Thesecnrryingarms are duplicates in construction, and therefore the samenotations refer to the elements or parts carried by each. Thesecarrying-arms extend from the rear end of the frame to well in front ofthe To the -outer edge of the sliding bracket is secured an arm, 51,through the lower end of which, and through the slot in the cross-pieceof the frame, is passed a shaft, 52,havingits inner end journaled to thecarrying-arm, as at 53. Onthis shaft 52 is fixed a gear-wheel,

54, which meshes with a gear-wheel, 55,

too

mounted on a shaft, 56, journaled to the carrying-arm at 57 58, on therear end of which is a smallergear-wheel, which meshes with a rack-bar,(30, secured against the inner face of the cross-piece of the frame. Onthe forward end of shaft 56 is a small gear-wheel, '79, which mesheswith a rack-bar, 80, on the crosspiece 66, by means of which the forwardend of the carrying arm is moved in alignment with the rear end.

A erank-arm is detachably applied to the short shaft 52 for operatingthe mechanism. The forward end of the carryingarm is formed withupwardly-turned flanges (32 63, which are fitted to set and slide in therecesses 6. (5 of the eross-pieee 66, secured in the frame, and the armis extended forward, forming a bracket, 67, on the upper end of whichthe auxiliary table may be laid, and extending downward is the arm6S,terminatiugin a vertically-arranged bearing, 69, in which the foot ofthe spindle sets, the upper part of the said spindle being fitted in abearing, 71, on the end of the carrying-arm. This spindle 70 has apulley, 72, and carries on the upper end the matcher-head. (Not shown.)

On the d riviugshaft are pulleys 73 7l,which are connected to thepulleys on the spindles of the matcherheads, as best showuin Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. By turning the crank of either carrying-arm it may bemoved as desired to set the matcher-hezuls to a wide or narrow board.

On the bed-plates a gage-bar, 75,which is secured to one of thecarrying-arms at its ends and in the middle by a bolt, 76, passed intothe carrying-arm through the opening between the plates of the bed. Thisarrangement permits the carrying arm, with the gage-bar attached, to bemoved without interfering with the bed-plates. \Vhen the carrying-arm'ismoved to the desired position, it is there held by turning down theclamping-screws 77' in the sliding bracket at the rear.

On the belts connecting the pulleys located on the driving-shaft underthe frame and connecting the mateher-spimlles are tighteners 78,substantially as shown.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the mechanism hasbeen greatly simplified and a great number of parts com monto planersheretofore in use dispensed with.

I am aware that it is old to employ a chain for driving the feed-rollersin a machine for sawing laths and like articles, and hence I do not wishto be understood as claiming,broadly, a chain-driving device to beemployed in rotating the fecd rollers in a woodworking machine.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. The combination, in a planing-machine, of upperand lower feed-rollers arranged in pairs before and behind theplaner-head, the upper feed -rollers being mounted in loose bearings toslide vertically and automatically, and driving-chains arranged over thenecks of the upper rear feed-roller, thence carried down in engagementwith a driving-sprocket, thence forward and over the neck of the upperforward feed-roller, thence carried down across and under the lowerforward feed-roller, thence across horizontally and carried under thelower rear feed-roller, and thence up across the axial line of theroller and over to the up per rear feed-roller, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose stated.

2. The combination, with the driving mechanism and the frame of aplaning-machine formed with seats or sleeves in the sides of the frame,of vertically-sliding and adjustable brackets fitted in said sleeve andformed with cross-heads provided with journal-box seats in the ends ofthe arms thereof, the upper feedrollers mounted on bearings looselyseated in said journal-box seat-s, single endless chains arranged torotate said rollers in unison, and a driving-shaft projected across themachine and provided with a sprocket-wheel to draw said chains androtate the said rollers, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the lower set of feedrollers mounted in bearingson the frame of the machine, adjustable brackets arranged in the frameto carry the upper set of rollers, the upper set of rollers disposed insaid bracket with their bearings loosely disposed in seats therein,single endless chains arranged to rotate all of the said rollers inunison, and a drivingshaft with sprocket-wheels to move thcchains androtate the rollers, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the frame of a planing-1nachine formed withslotted upper end picce at the rear and a forward cros piece, ofrack-bars seen red to said rear and f. ward crosspieees, thespindle-carrying arms formed to be supported and to slide laterally onsaid cross-pieces, a shaft with a gear-wheel on each end to mesh withthe rack-bars, and a gear-wheel journaled on a shaft in the rear end ofthe carrying-arm to rotate said shalt on the carrying arm, substantiallyas de scribed.

5. The combination, with the adjustable carrying-arm arranged to movelaterally in both directions, and the bed-plates of the machine arrangedwith a transverse opening between thcm, of the gage-bar secured to thecarrying-arm and adjustable therewith, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a planing-machine, of feed rollers, the upperrollers of which have their-journals mounted in bearings arranged toyield automatically and perpendicular, and formed with sp rockets ontheir necks,a drivingsprockct set to the rear of therear feed-rollers atan. angle of less than forty-five degrees from the "ertieal axial lineof the rear upper feedroller, and an endless chain to traverse the Ihave hereunto set our hands in the presence sprockets of the rollers andthe drivingof two attesting witnesses. sprocket, and arranged to pulldirectly from 1 SAMUEL J. SHIMER,

the rear upper feed-roller to the driving- GEO. APPLEGATE, 5 sprocket,substantially as described, and for Administrators, ($20.

the purpose stated. Mrs. L. A. SHIMER,

In witness whereof we, the said SAMUEL J. V Administratm'x, 62c. SHIMER,and the said GEO. APPLEGATE and Attest: LENNIA A. SHIMER, administratorsof the es- H. E. B'ARRALL,

1o t'ate of the said GEORGE J. SHIMER, deceased, LOUISA RAUOH.

